The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-09-08
PEA RIDGE.
curtis had So Idea Of surrsnderIng There.

Gen. curtis Had Ne Idea Of Surrenderlng There.
EIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In q recent
issue Albert w. MaCkey. Seneca Kan, says he
has been told by an Iowa soldier that Gen.
Curtis wanted % surrender at Pea Ridge, ana
that Gen. Sigel ordered him not 10 give up.
The writer thinks this is mistake.
Well, ! sbould judge the writer is about cor
rect The right OF Curtis's army on March 8
1862, WAS at Bcntonville. Ark, commanded by
Gen. Sigel. and was composed of three divls-
ions. The left lay az Cross Hollows-one di-
vision, commanded by Col. Carr. 81 Ill. Cav.
| This division WAS composed as follows; First
BrCade--ith Iowa. Both H., 25th Mo, one
battalion Sd H. Cav, and LIST Iowa battery
commanded by Col q. NJ. Dodge, Of 9Th Iowa
Second Bugsde-3th Iowa, Col. Pheipss Mis-
SCUM regiment OF six-months men. one battal-
ION ID ll. Cav and the Dubuque Iowa battery
commanded by Col. NanDever, and the 9th
Iowa.
On the night OF March we fell back - miles,
70 the north bank OF Sugar Creek, about two
miles south of Elk Horn Tavern, where we
erected Notifications on the MISUNDERSTANDING
position overlooking Sugar Creek Valley. We
could hear the sound of Sigel's cannon all the
a afternoon, rs he retrcated 10 a position on
Cars right The enemy, knowing every
birdie path in the hills, during the night OF the
Gin passed entirely around the right wing. aud
st { a. m. on the 9TH the long roll sounded aud
we started back, as we supposed, on hurried
retreat
At Elk Horn Tavern we turned sharply TO
the east, and IN less then halt mile we formed
line OF battie and the ball opened. Curtis $
army had simply about faced aud found the
enemy. $4,000 strong. between as aud our base
aud Curiis's army. which was but Is, 600 strong.
! There was a space of about two miles held
/ only by skiunish-line between Sigel's com
mand aud Cars. Cars Division numbered
25u0 men. The rest Of the army was under
4 Siecs immediate command, and on that part
\ Of the field the cOntending forces were about
equal Before sunset victory was with Sigel.
Bat with Carrs little division il was differ
4 ent. IL withstood Prices old Missouri army,
\ c0mpu ga at $1,000. We were constantly
crowded back. until just at sunset retreat
/ WAS ordered, and on coming out Of the tim
\ ber into a field there was a glorious sight.
\ Two Indiana regments-Sth and 22d-stOod i'm
/ line 20 assist Us. We were out of ammunition.
Gen. Curtis rode along the line. raised his hat,
and with considerable feeling i'm his tones said :
Men, Iowa never fails About face Fix
! bayouets! F0rward-March :"
We returned into the woods and fired the last
shot from our artillery that evening just as the
stars began 10 peep.
Having been wounded three time I was
urged by comrade 20 20 20 the Hospital,
which was the next log farmhouse south OF the
] Aslh ilntn- GAdiulhSQ ny houhus uuiihR
! the night aud concluded that | could stand
some more fight. Just at daylight while
singing my kn8psack. / heard the order given
TO VaGate the building, as il was ia range Of the
| eBemy's artillery. As | reached the road Gen.
/ Curtis aud staff rode mp 10 Gen. Sigel, and
4 heard Curtis ask Sigel If he had his command
all in readiness. Sigel answered in the aftrIna-
tive and j heard Curtis give further iBstruc-
tions and ride OF in one direction. while Size!
went in another. As terrific cannonading ms
ever heard for the number OF pieces engaged
4 went ON from about $50 70 1920 "A. IN. Then
/ there came a lull. az length a solitary cannon
| and then the shouts and hnrrahs Of Cnrtis's
| army.
Curtis's loss in killed and wounded was .35l
or this loss CarT's little division suffered 70l,
little more than half The sth Iowa went int
battle with 535 men. Co. b, numbering
about 30 men, was detached and on the Skin
mish-line mentioned above, and suffered NJ
loss. The other nine companies lost 166 killed
and wounded. Co. A went into action with g
men aud lost IL killed and wOunded.-J. NJ
BOWMAN, 90. A, 4th Iowa, Chetopa. Kan.